Sounds like you refueled off the GW back in the 1990s, when I was onboard. I was a Airdale and I would always have to raise the whips, so you guys could come along side. Miss those days 70 feet in the air with only a harness.
We refueled from a CVN in the 80s. We had been tracking a Soviet SSBN for days and this CVBG was the only gas station around. A chance one-off UNREP of opportunity under unusual circumstances. We were totally out of place, an ASW Knox class frigate mingling with a CVBG.
I have a question, do/did CVNs refuel destroyers and frigates very often? I would imagine not that often.